Stairway



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2 sheets-sheet '1. L. G. SOUDER. STAIRWAY.

Patented July 2, 1889.

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L. G. SOUDER.

STAIRWAY.

No. 406,314. Patented July 2, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEAMON G. SOUDER, OF NORRIS-TOVN, PENNSYLVANIA.

STAIRWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,314, dated July 2, 1889.

Application filed July 18, 1887. Serial No. 244,638. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEAMON G. SOUDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norristown, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stairways; and I do hereby declare the following to be a sufiiciently full, clear, and exact description thereof as to enable others skilled in the art to make and use the said invention.

This invention relates to means for access to the several iioors of buildings, and has for its object the avoidance of the labor and fatigue involved in ascending ordinary stair- Ways, and also the attendance requisite for operating a passenger-elevator.

To these ends the invention consists in a series of steps and linksjointed to each other, together with means for propelling the said steps.

The invention also consists in certain peculiarities in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.1

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, Figure l is a top plan view of a stairway constructed after the plan hereinafter set forth. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the stairway, showing 'a modification of the operating device. Fig. 3 is a vertical section in the plane indicated by the dotted line x cc in Fig. l. Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of part of a step with my hinged link attached. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section of part of a stairway, showing a portion of my device. Fig. G is a transverse section, and shows clearly the supporting and guiding wheels. Fig. 7 is a detail front view of the wedge-shaped bloc-ks, and Fig. 8 is a side plan view of the same. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the stairway, showing the steps stretched out in straight line during their descent.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several iigures.

A designates the steps of the stairway, which latter is by preference made doublethat is to say, with an ascending and a descending Hight parallel with each other, as shown in the drawings.

Pivotally attached to the center of the under side of each of the steps A is a link or rod B, which is united to the one next adjacent by means of a vertical link or rod C, hinged or pivotally connected to the said links or rods B. It will thus be seen that an endless chain is formed by these series of links or rods capable of moving in a lateral direction, in order to render it capable of accommodating itself to the position the stairway assumes in rounding curves.

Pivotally attached to and supported by a bracket E, secured to the center of each of the steps A, is a wheel D,which wheel travels upon a rail F, situated beneath the series of steps.

The stairs are propelled by an endless band or chain M, passing over rollers M2 and M3, having projections h' thereon, which projections engage corresponding projections A', which are attached to t-he several steps A, and thus impart motion thereto. The endless chain M may receive its motion from a cogwheel which may be situated upon the shaft of the lower roller M2 and turned by a v'pinion or other suitable device; or any other suitable means inay be adopted. Such means form no part of the present invention, and it will be unnecessary to show them herein.

In order to prevent tilting of the steps A in operation, wheels G are provided, which wheels are preferably smaller in size than the wheels D, hereinbefore referred to, and they roll between and are guided by rails J and K, secured to the sides of the stairway and running parallel with each other. L and L are respectively an upper and a lower landing.

It will be observed that the rails F, J, and K are, as shown in Fig. l, curved and horizontal upon the landings and straight and inclined upon the flights, and in order to guide the wheels D, and consequently the steps, around the curves at the landings, it becomes necessary to iange the 'peripheries of the said wheels, which construction is shown at D', Fig. 5.

To the endless belt M are attached wedgeshaped blocks O, (shown in detail in Fig. 7 ,)and which are so positioned as to at all times be located one at either side of each of the wheels D. These wedge-shaped blocks O are normally ont of contact with the wheels D; but in the event of the breaking of the belt M IOO they fall out of their normal position into the path of and contact with the said wheels, which latter, rolling upon the thinner ends thereof, are scotched or checked, and thus prevented from falling or sliding down. It will be quite obvious that the blocks O will not be situated in alignment with the blocks M, as they would then be liable to interfere with the engagement of said blocks M with the depending projections A.

It is not essential that there be both an ascending and descending flight of stairs for the operation of the invention, as the steps may return in diagonal guides under the ascending flight, as shown in Fig. 9, the difference in this case being that the rails F at the landings are curved in vertical planes instead of in horizontal planes, and an endless series of steps is formed. Then this latter construction is adopted, an endless chain (designated by the letter V) may be employed in lieu of the endless belt M. This endless chain is suitably formed to engage sprocket-wheels P, which latter are substituted for the rollers M2 and M3. (Shown in Fig. 2.) Serving to connect the chain V with the series of steps are a series of small chains N, which chains have their respect-ive extremities secured tothe steps and to the endless chain, as shown in Fig. 2.

The operation of this invention is as follows: The belt M being driven in the direction indicated in the drawings, Fig. 3, bythe arrow, the projections M engage the projections A under each step, and the steps rise successively in horizontal position as they emerge from the lower landing and pass inclined upwardly, being guided by the rollers l, running between the rails .I and K, and after reaching the upper landing pass under the [ioor thereof, and (in the event of the construction shown in Fig'. 9 being employed) return bythe other inclined guide to the place of standing.

To ascend a stairway constructed after the plan herein set forth, it is simply necessary to step upon the lower step and rise with the stairway and at the landing above step off. It will be readily seen that when the operation of the propelling-power ceases the steps can be used as an additional flight of steps.

I-Iavin g now described my invention and the mode of operating the same, what I believe to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, and what I therefore claim, is-

1. In a moving stairway, the series of steps, links pivotally attached to the same, connecting-links hinged thereto, for the purpose set forth, and supporting-rollers, in combination with means for preventing the tilting of the said steps in rounding curves, consisting of rollers and guiding-rails, between which t-hc said rails run.

2. The steps A, the projections A thereupon, means for connecting the several steps, the endless belt M, and the projections M thereupon, all arranged and combined for joint operation in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. In a moving stairway, the combination, with a series of steps united by links or rods pivotally attached thereto and to each other, and the supporting and guiding rails F, J, and K, of the wheels D and G, substantially as herein set forth.

4. In a moving stairway, the series of steps and connecting hinged links or rods, in coinbination with the rails F .I K, adapted to guide and support the steps during their ascent, a series of guides for the steps during their descent, and an endless propelling-belt, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a moving stairway, the series of steps united by links or rods pivotally attached thereto and to each other, in combination with a series of wheels guided upon and between a series of rails and adapted con-- jointly with said series of links to control the motion of the steps, a propelling-belt., and inclined or wedge-shaped blocks O, secured thereon, and adapted to operate in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

6.. In a moving stairway, the steps thereof and suitable means for connecting the same, in combination with a propelling-belt and inclined or wedge-shapedblocks O, secured thereto, and adapted to operate in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a moving stairway, the combination, with the series of steps, of a series of horizontal links or rods pivotally attached to the under side of the said steps, and a series of vertical links or rods serving to connect the series of steps by having their extremities secured to the extremities of the horizontal `links or rods, substantially as herein set forth.

L. G. SOUDER. Witnesses:

J. DANIEL Env, CHAs. MCFETRIDGE.

IOO 

